[embeddoc url=”https://newspublictrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/WEAHS-LAST-ASSET-DECLARATION.pdf” download=”all”]
-US$150,000 9th Street Residence being demolished
By Frank Sainworla, Jr. fsainworla@yahoo.com
Nearly two months after his inauguration, President George Manneh Weah has failed to declare his assets, in line with the Code of Conduct called for by Article 11 of the Liberian constitution.
In Part 5 Section 5.2 (1) of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) Act of 2008 it is an “obligation to file asset declaration statements” by officials of government. And Part 3 of the LACC Final Regulation deems that it is an infringement for any official to refuse to submit asset declaration.
Since President Weah has not taken the lead, the rest of his officials are yet to fulfill this legal mandate, although Information Minister Eugene Nagbe said on Friday that the President has not refused to comply but was putting his papers together.
In the absence of his asset declaration, it’s not known how much the 51-year-old Liberian leader is worth.
But asset declaration filed to the National Elections Commission (NEC) in 2005 in the possession of www.newspublictrust.com gives some indication of where his assets are and a semblance of the value years before his ascendency to the presidency.
The document shows “incomes (Weah) realized in the border of Liberia and abroad during the last twelve (12) months” of 2005.
His three sources of incomes realized in US dollars in the year 2005 totaled US$335,000 on properties both in the United States and here in Liberia.
Real estate in the USA valued US$250,000, US$60,000 from a supermarket in the USA, while he said to earned US$25, 000 from his real estate in Liberia.
Weah in 2005 declared that his combined assets both in Liberia and the USA was over US$2.8 million. His residence in Florida, USA was said to worth US$1.5 million, while his Supermarket in Miami, Florida was said to worth US$1.2 million.
The CDC leader’s two residences in Liberia were said to be valued US$250,000, with the one in which he currently resides as President in the ELWA Rehab Road area outside Monrovia being put at US$100,000.
His residence located on the 9th Street in Sinkor, Monrovia, which is currently being demolished to be replaced by a mega structure, was valued in 2005 at US$150,000.
Weah’s 2005 asset declaration form (ID#242), which bears the CDC Standar Bearer’s signature, was submitted to NEC with his nomination under oath on August 4, 2005.
“I certify that I have read the information on this form and its supporting regulations and that the information contained herewith is true and accurate and to the best of my knowledge.”
However, the CDC Standard Bearer’s 2005 asset declaration document did not include bank balance (s).
Several years later, Weah in 2014 won the Senatorial elections and became Senator of Montserrado for three years until his election as President in December 2017, earning a monthly income of somewhere around US$15,000.
His total worth as Senator for the three years is estimated to be US$540,000.
Demolition of US$150,000 9th Street house
Information Minister Eugene Nagbe speaking on Friday at the MICAT press briefing in Monrovia, said that several months back (before he was elected to the presidency), President Weah started redeveloping his properties.
Nagbe claimed that the demolition at the President’s 9th street residence was in keeping with that exercise.
“He hasn’t even taken pay yet for you to say that the money he’s using,” the Information Minister Nagbe said.
President Weah’s apparent reluctance to come forward with his asset declaration has sparked serious debates in many quarters, since in fact he has said that his CDC government would be a champion of transparency and accountability.
The Vice Chairman of the opposition Liberty Party (LP), Dairus Dillon, writing on his Facebook page this week urged President Weah not to delay further in declaring his assets.
“Mr. President, you need to declare your assets. The Law mandates that you do so. You took Oath to defend, protect and respect the Constitution and Laws of Liberia. Asset Declaration AFTER taking public office is LAW. Try to lead by example!” the LP executive said.
Even before his inauguration on January 22, 2018, the Deputy Chairman of the LACC, Cllr Augustine Toe reminded then President-elect George Manneh Weah that it is important that disclose his financial worth to the Liberia people when he took office;
Toe said on the private-owned Prime FM radio in Monrovia: “We call on the president-elect and the incoming government to show their commitment to this fight by declaring their assets.’’
The anti-graft agency’s Vice Chairman further said: “I want to encourage Weah to take the lead by declaring his asset and then make it mandatory for every official coming into government to declare their asset.
According to Cllr. Toe, “This will send a clear signal across the country that Weah has taken the lead.’’
Officials in all three branches of government are mandated to declare their assets.
According to the LACC regulations, “The LACC shall issue Asset Declaration (AD) forms that shall be completed, signed, notarized and filed in accordance with Section 10.2 of the National Code of Conduct (NCoC) by all persons occupying the following positions: the Legislature, Judiciary and Executive—President, Vice President, cabinet ministers and other officials.”